Home learning is always a topical issue in schools across the country. Some parents want more home learning, some want less. Some parents want creative home learning and some want a list of calculations or tasks. As you can see, home learning is hard to get right for every family!

At Littleport Community Primary School, we have streamlined home learning and reflected on what the children need and what is the minimum that every child should be completing. Home learning is a link between school and home. Children only retain about half of what they are taught the first time, they need to apply that information and practise to truly learn. Whilst we revisit learning in school using retrieval strategies to support learning, additional practice at home is also beneficial. Home learning also allows parents and carers to be involved with their children’s learning.

Littleport Community Primary School has decided on three key areas for home learning.

1) READING

This is by far the most important aspect of home learning in primary school. Reading is the key to life! We complete hours of reading activities and tasks in school, however, children need to be reading at home too. In an ideal world, we would love all children in the school to read with an adult every single day and we know this happens in some households. In others, we know this isn't always feasible due to commitments elsewhere so we ask for a minimum of three times a week. 

What does this look like and what counts?

★ Reading to a child with the child following in the book

★ Taking a line or a paragraph each as you read a few pages

★ Reading together at the same time (tricky but fun!)

★ The child reading and the adult listening.

For the oldest children:

★ Reading alone and explaining what they have read

★ Reading alone

Parents/carers of children in Reception to Year 2 should record your child's reading record on Boom Reader (www.boomreader.com/parents), which can be accessed on the website link or as an app on your device. If you need another copy of the letter with the details on for you to access your account please let your class teacher know.

2) Spellings or Phonics

Children may receive words or sounds (phonemes). These may be based around a letter pattern, sound or published word list. We expect the children to read, explore and learn these words. Adult support when tackling new or harder words would be appreciated. These words will not be tested weekly. However, some quizzing and/or dictation may take place at various times during the year to check application and retention. Correct use of the words in the wider curriculum is the best way to apply this learning, teachers will be looking out for this.

3) Maths

In Years 2 - 6, children should practise their multiplication skills using Times Tables Rockstars. 

If completing work online is an issue or your child is having trouble accessing or completing the home learning, please speak to your child’s class teacher.

Our curriculum map is found on our website here. This is a great starting point if you wish to explore extra learning opportunities in addition to the school home learning expectations set. Newsletters also give information related to that term’s learning. The reason for providing a weekly newsletter for each year group is to provide families with the information about what their child will be learning so that you are able to create additional learning opportunities at home, should you wish to, linked to this.